An online magazine of faith based on a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The mission of Unitarian Universalism: A Way Of Life ministries is to sanctify the world by helping people become aware of their holiness.

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Monday, January 1, 2018

Prophetic voices and events - Emancipation proclamation.

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the United States but oppression and subjugation of African Americans continues to this day with the continuation of racist institutions in our American Society.

Lincoln signed the proclamation but only after many years of abolitionist advocacy and a civil war. Lincoln is remembered for the proclamation but there were millions who suffered and died to advance the justice. Just recently Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner, and social activist died at age 27.

There is more work to be done to achieve justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, Unitarian Universalism's second principle. There is great work still to be done.

3 comments:

The point that Lincoln doesn't get the credit but the people of this nation who advocated for justice, equity, and compassion that led to Lincoln finally making a proclamation to free the slaves. Would Lincoln have made such a proclamation if millions of Americans had not demanded it? Probably not, if things had been left up to the capitalists who benefited economically from the institution of slavery. After all, you can get rich with free labor.

Carl, your point is a good one. William Lloyd Garrison first published the Liberator, a newspaper dedicated to abolition of slavery, on January 1, 1831 which was 32 years before the Emanciplation Proclamation. We should be thanking Garrison and other abolitionists who worked decades before Lincoln finally made his proclamation.

Individual actions are usually the culmination of years of activity behind the action itself by several, if not hundreds, thousands, and millions of people. We should not lose memory of all the unknown people who made this event possible. One little candle can contribute to a roaring fire.